Skype is going back to simplicity

Skype is facing the tough competition from the apps like WhatsApp, Messenger, FaceTime, WeChat, Line, and Telegram, which has pushed the popularity of the application downwards. Now, it seems that Microsoft will put all the possible way to revive Skype’s popularity, in order to achieve that Microsoft revealed that it is simplifying Skype again, after a radical redesign last year.

Having introduced a Snapchat-inspired highlights feature last year, Microsoft’s director of design Peter Skillman in a blog post stated “We needed to take a step back and simplify!.” What he meant by this is that Skype is doing away with the Highlights feature completely and also incorporating a few more changes to the interface.

If you were using the highlights feature on your Skype account, you can save a copy of all your highlights so far, until 30 September.

As per the blog post Microsoft says, taking a step back to renew its focus on Skype’s core features such as calling, video calling and messaging and do away with features which clutter the interface. Application for Android and iOS will be redesigned with the chat, calls and contact buttons moving to the bottom of the app UI. Apart from the Highlights, Skype is also doing away with Capture to adhere to its new clutter-free look.

As for the desktop app, the chats, calls, contacts, and notifications can now be accessed from the top left of the window, making it easy for long-time Skype users to understand. There is also a choice of light and dark themes to choose from along with minor design changes to make the interface look more pleasing to the eye.

Just to remind our user, WhatsApp has recently introduced the group video calling on the app, enabling 4 people to have a call together, which has given Skype user option to switch.

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Rahul is the founder and content producer at Viral Mobile Tech. He loves technology and mobile more than anything else. His 80% time goes in Playing with technology and reading about the new stuff. Exploring new technology is his passion.